Apparatus for processing heatsoftenable materials



June 21, 1966 e. SLAYTER ETAL 3,257,183

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING HEAT-SOFTENABLE MATERIALS Original Filed April18, 1956 300-- m 8 .29s 3/4\ 316 I YT I I m] 5 :I,,"*--*298 296 324 324300 ATTYS.

United States Patent 3,257,183 APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING HEAT- SOFTENABLEMATERIALS Games Slayter, deceased, late of Newark, Ohio, by The ParkNational Bank of Newark, executor, Newark, Ohio, and Henry J. Snow,Newark, Robert G. Russell, Granville, and Dale Kleist, St. Louisville,Ohio, assignors to Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, acorporation of Delaware Application Aug. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 129,872, nowPatent No. 3,177,058, dated Jan. 7, 1964, which is a division ofapplication Ser. No. 578,926, Apr. 18, 1956, now Patent No. 3,026,563,dated Mar. 27, 1962. Divided and this application Feb. 19, 1965, Ser.No. 434,140

3 Claims. (Cl. 65-6) This application is a division of our copendingapplication Serial No. 129,872, now Patent 3,177,058 which is a divisionof our application Serial No. 578,926, now Patent 3,026,563.

This invention relates to method and apparatus for processingheat-softenable materials in the production of fibers or discrete bodiesfrom heat-softenable materials and pertains more especially to formingfibers, filaments,

materials by high velocity gaseous blasts wherein the gases are attemperatures above the fusing temperatures of the materials.

Developments have been made and used wherein a stream of glass or otherheat-softened attenuable mineral material is delivered into engagementwith a rotating.

spinner or rotor and is acted upon by centrifugal forces throughrotation of the spinner or rotor to project the heat-softened materialoutwardly of the axis of rotation whereby the material is formed intoelongated bodies. Where it is desired to form fine fibers from thebodies,

- a gaseous blast is employed to draw out or attenuate the bodies tofibers.

In arrangements of this character, a glass stream or streams of moltenmaterial are introduced into the hollow spinner or rotor and engage asurface within the spinner or rotor and is moved outwardly bycentrifugal forces into-engagement with a perforated wall of thespinner. The effective distribution of the material within the rotor haspresented difficulties in order to secure a uniform amount of moltenmaterial at the peripheral call of the rotor in order to securesatisfactory formation of bodies projected from the spinner.

The present invention embraces a method and means of distributingsoftened material by rotating means in order to obtain desired placementof the material relative to the aXis of rotation to produce discretebodies of the material having substantially uniform characteristics.

An object of the invention resides in a method of distributing moltenmineral material by centrifugal forces to form elongated bodies of themolten material, the method being adaptable for producing elongatedbodies of various sizes and shapes in cross-sectional configuration.

Another object of the invention embraces structural arrangements fordelivering molten mineral material generally outwardly of an axis toeffect a uniform distribution at a zone or zones spaced from the axis atwhich forces.

the material may be formed by centrifugal forces into elongated bodiesor filaments of predetermined crosssectional configuration.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of rotatablemeansfor distributing heat-softened mineral materials wherein thematerial is projected through apertures of predetermined configurationor shape for forming discrete bodies of the projected material.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of meansassociated with a rotor arranged to receive one or more streams ofheat-softened mineral material and transfer it in outwardly directedpaths under the influence of centrifugal forces for obtaining desiredcircumferential distribution of the material.

Another object of the invention resides in a method of distributingmolten mineral material by centrifugal forces involving the utilizationof a partitioned or compartmented rotor adapted to receive moltenmaterial from a central zone, the material "being delivered into thecompartments and discharged therefrom in the form of discrete bodiessuch as filaments, fibers, ribbon, film or flakelike products, or otherforms for further processing.

Another object is the provision of means for distributing fiowablematerial by centrifugal forces to a circular zone spaced from an axis ofrotation whereby the distribution or collection of the material at thecircular zone may be regulated and controlled.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this inventionsuch as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the relatedelements of the structure, to various details of construction and tocombinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufactureand numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration ofthe specification and drawing of.

a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view through a multiple armed orchambered rotor especially adapted for forming film glass, and

FIGURES 2 is an end view of one of the arms of the rotor shown in FIGURE1.

The method and apparatus of the invention are illustrated asparticularly usable for forming fibers, filaments, ribbons, films orother elongated bodies of various configurations and cross-sectionalshapes from heat-softenable materials, such as glass, fusible rock,slag, or fiberf-orming resins, through the utilization of centrifugal Itis to be understood that the method and apparatus of the invention,while having particular utility in forming bodies of the character andshapes above mentioned, may be used for other kindred or similarpurposes.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a rotor construction,especially adapted to form glass or other heat-soften'able material intothin films for forming flakes of glass or the like. The rotor 290 isformed with a hub portion 292 which is secured and supported by a hollowshaft or tubular member 24a which is journaled in suitable bearings (notshown). The shaft 24a is provided at its upper extremity with a sheaveor pulley 37a driven by a motor (not shown) by means by driving belts38a.

The rotor is formed with a tapering or frustro-conically shaped wallzone 294 and a bottom wall 295. The rotor is also formed withciroumferentially spaced wall zones 296. While four zones of thischaracter have been illustrated, it is to be understood that any numberof zones 296 may formed at the periphery of the rotor within thedimensional limitations thereof each of the zones 296 is formed with acircular row of small outlets or orifices 298 as shown in FIGURE 2 whichare disposed as close together as possible. Each of the zones 296 isformed with a circularly cylindrically shaped hood or shroud 300 whichcircumscribes or surrounds the circular group of outlets or orifices29S. Molten material within the rotor is discharged through the groupsof openings or orifices 298 and, due to the close positioning of theorifices in the circular row, a substantially circular cylindrical thinWalled body or tubular formation of glass or other molten material isformed within the confined zone provided by the shrouds or hoods 300. Astream 302 of glass or other molten material is delivered from an outlet304 formed in a forehearth 306 containing a supply of molten glass orother filmforming material.

The arrangement shown includes means for delivering a fluid, such ascompressed air or other gas under pressure, to the film forming zones296 of the rotor construction. Disposed axially of the hollow shaft ortubular member 24a and the rotor 290 is a manifold tube or pipe 310formed at its lower extremity with a fitting 312 having a plurality ofbranch pipes 314, each branch pipe 314 being connected with a rotor wallportion at the zone 296. The outlet 316 of each of the tubes 314 iscentrally arranged with respect to the circular row of orifices 298 ateachof the zones 296.

A material distributing member 318 may be secured to the pipe 310 orformed as an integral part of the fitting 312 The pipe 310, fitting 312,branch pipes 314 and the material distributing member 318 rotate withthe rotor 290. A pipe 320, connected with a supply of compressed air orother gas under pressure, is relatively stationary and a sealing means322 of conventional construction joins the rotatable pipe 310 with thesta tionary pipe 320 forming a fluid tight connection. The bottom Wall295 of the rotor may be formed with openings 324 to provide for theescape of gases that may accumulate within the rotor.

In the operation of the arrangement, the shaft 24a and the rotor 290 arerotated by a motor (not shown). The stream of glass 302 directed throughthe hollow shaft 24a impinges upon or engages the rotating distributingmember 318, centrifugal forces acting upon the glass through itsengagement with the distributing member 318 projects or delivers theglass or other molten material into contact with the inner surface ofthe tapered wall portion 294 of the rotor.

The centrifugal forces established by rotation of the rotor act upon thematerial in contact with the rotor Wall 294 whereby the material isdistributed over the inner wall surfaces of the zones 2196v of therotor. The glass or other molten material adjacent the zones 296 isprojected through the circular rows of orifices 298 concurrrently withdelivery of gas under pressure through the tubes 310 and 314 through theoutlets 316 into the interior of the substantially cylindrical tubularconfiguration or film formed of the glass projected through the openings298 and confined by the hoods or enclosures 300.

The cylindrical or tubular films of glass formed within the hoods orshrouds 300 are moved outwardly by centrifugal forces of rotation of therotor and, influenced by the expansion of the compressed air or othergas under pressure delivered into the interior of each of thecylindrical films, the films are blown up and attenuated to very thinformation. Upon chilling, the thin films are broken up to form flakes ofglass. Through this method and arrangement, flake glass may be produced5 inexpensively and in large quantities.

It is apparent that, Within the scope of the invention, modificationsand different arrangements may be made other than is herein disclosed,and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the inventioncomprehending all variations thereof.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for forming film glass including, in combination, a hollowrotor adapted to receive a stream of heat-softened glass in a centralzone thereof, means for rotating the rotor, said rotor being formed withperipheral zones provided with orifice means through which theheat-softened glass is delivered in the form of bodies of generallytubular formation, means disposed within the rotor in the path of theglass stream adapted to divert the glass to the orifice means arrangedat the peripheral zones of the rotor, a tubular projection formed onsaid rotor adjacent each of the peripheral zones for confining thetubular body of glass, and means for delivering streams of gas into theinteriors of the tubular shaped glass bodies for attenuating the bodiesinto film glass.

2. Apparatus for forming film glass including, in combination, a hollowrotor adapted to receive heat-softened glass, means for rotating therotor, said rotor being formed with peripheral zones, each of said zonesbeing provided with orifice means through which the heatsoftened glassis delivered to form a body of generally annular cross section, meansdisposed within the rotor in the path of the glass stream adapted todivert the glass to'the orifice means arranged at the peripheral zonesof the rotor, and means for delivering streams of gas into the interiorsof the annularly shaped glass bodies for attenuating the bodies intofilm glass.

3. Apparatus for forming film glass including, in combination, a hollowrotor adapted to receive heat-softened glass, means for rotating therotor, said rotor being formed with peripheral zones wherein each zoneis provided with orifice means through which the heat-softened glass is45 delivered under the influence of centrifugal forces in tubularformation, and means directing gas interiorly of the tubular formationsto form film glass.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,571,216 2/1926Soubier 6586 1,889,891 12/1932 Favre 65-86 1,926,905 9/1933 LeCoultre65- 86 X 1,975,737 10/1934 Sanchez-Vello 6586 2,928,716 3/1960Wjitehurst et al. 653 3,014,235 12/1961 Snow 65-14 X 3,097,941 7/1963Toulman 65-3 DONALL H. SYLVESTER, Primary Examiner.

HOWARD R. CAINE, Examiner.

R. L. LINDSAY, Assistant Examiner,

3. APPARATUS FOR FORMING FILM GLASS INCLUDING, IN COMBINATION, A HOLLOWROTOR ADAPTED TO RECEIVE HEAT-SOFTENED GLASS, MEANS FOR ROTATING THEROTOR, SAID ROTOR BEING FORMED WITH PERIPHERAL ZONES WHEREIN EACH ZONEIS PROVIDED WITH ORIFICE MEANS THROUGH WHICH THE HEAT-SOFTENED GLASS ISDELIVERED UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF CENTRIFUGAL FORCES IN TUBULARFORMATION, AND MEANS DIRECTING GAS INTERIORLY OF THE TUBULAR FORMATIONSTO FORM FILM GLASS.